A Macedonian blogger and activist has brought attention to the plight of Mr. Dushko Brankovikj[1] [mk]. Brankovikj has had his property nationalized twice[2] by the state over the last 65 years, and although he won all the court cases regarding this matter to date, Macedonian state institutions have failed to implement the verdicts and return his property.

Macedonian activist Nikola Pisarev posted[4] a photo of a man holding handwritten signs reading, “How can municipal decision be stronger than the Supreme Court decision? It can with this Supreme Court. With such judgments we'll end up on Mars instead of in the EU! The Supreme Court should be a Corrector, not a Caricature”:

[4]

the elderly Brankovikj protesting in front of Supreme Court in Skopje, Macedonia. Photo by Aleksandar Pisarev, published with permission.

Individual activism often starts with a goal of solving personal problems, which is legitimate, as many others might be concerned by the same issue (in this case the non-functioning of the Macedonian judiciary resulting in “unjust” justice). Therefore, this man deserves respect and support by all of us who believe in the power of civic action.

In the absence of media and absence of institutional justice, the only thing one can do is protest!

I do not know this man from before. I met him few days ago, he is holding individual protests before the court almost every day, seeking justice since 1973. According to his explanation and the materials he showed me, he is right. Sadly, the non-functional local government makes his life bitter and brutally infringes on his right to private property.

As a result of Pisarev's profile on his blog and social media, several independent media outlets have published stories about Brankovikj's case and people have now taken up commenting not only this particular matter but about Macedonian courts and government systems in general on social media and elsewhere.